Richard Pryor's classic 1979 concert film has him discussing a wide range of topics, including race, the police and his favorite target -- himself.Richard Pryor's classic 1979 concert film has him discussing a wide range of topics, including race, the police and his favorite target -- himself.Richard Pryor's classic 1979 concert film has him discussing a wide range of topics, including race, the police and his favorite target -- himself.
- Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination total
Patti LaBelle
- Self
- (scenes deleted)
Huey P. Newton
- Self - Spectator
- (uncredited)
Jennifer Lee Pryor
- Self
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Despite the thousands that have stepped on to the comedy stage, many regard Richard Pryor: Live in Concert as the greatest stand-up show of all time. Live and on fire, this is Pryor at his finest ~ a unique opportunity to understand why comics and comedy lovers call him the godfather of modern comedy. Whether he's talking about his bout in the ring with Mohammed Ali, or recounting tales of snorting cocaine off the dining room table in front of his grandmother, Pryor is the heavyweight champion, playing off tragedy and humour in a way that few others have ever dared.
This is f@ckin hilarious !!
Apparently this is going to be released on a UK DVD soon. Cant wait !!
This is f@ckin hilarious !!
Apparently this is going to be released on a UK DVD soon. Cant wait !!
This was the first time a stand-up comedian was filmed doing his act, and most people predicted that it would fail. Bill Sargent had the idea of filming Pryor's act, but since most of the industry thought it would flop, they had trouble getting anyone to distribute it, so a few mavericks in the industry distributed it themselves. It was cheap to make, all the profits would be gravy, and the men who made it believed that people would respond to Richard Pryor's act. Video was just coming out and would soon be a force, and Pryor was at the top of his game, and the gamble paid off. Now we take for granted watching stand-up comedy on TV and everywhere else, but at the time bringing a comedy routine to the big screen, especially one as raunchy as Pryor's, was considered a huge risk.
But Pryor is on fire in front of his audience. He's honest and raw, and doesn't pull any punches. And because of that you'll laugh so hard your gut will bust. But when you watch this film it is of interest to realize that at the time it was filmed there was no "Def Comedy Jam." There was no Bill Cosby "Himself." That all came after this. Richard Pryor and a few daring producers brought this genre to life with this one act, and had it not been so incredibly good, it might not have become the money making and entertaining part of the industry that it is today.
When you watch this you can know you're watching the first and the best.
But Pryor is on fire in front of his audience. He's honest and raw, and doesn't pull any punches. And because of that you'll laugh so hard your gut will bust. But when you watch this film it is of interest to realize that at the time it was filmed there was no "Def Comedy Jam." There was no Bill Cosby "Himself." That all came after this. Richard Pryor and a few daring producers brought this genre to life with this one act, and had it not been so incredibly good, it might not have become the money making and entertaining part of the industry that it is today.
When you watch this you can know you're watching the first and the best.
Genius! I remember seeing this years ago and being knocked flat with laughter. It is and remains a classic in the comedy concert film genre. Richard Pryor is the King of Comedy and all he needs is a mike, a stage, and an audience to give one of the great comedy performances ever recorded in the history of celluloid.
But this isn't just stand-up comedy. This is theater. Richard Pryor is a badass one man theater troupe. This flick is ground breaking in the fact that is has influenced so many comics and will continue to do so. His name is Richard Pryor. Hear him roar!
But this isn't just stand-up comedy. This is theater. Richard Pryor is a badass one man theater troupe. This flick is ground breaking in the fact that is has influenced so many comics and will continue to do so. His name is Richard Pryor. Hear him roar!
This guy is pretty darn funny. He makes a great dog, for instance. And a great John Wayne. And if you've seen Eddie Murphy's Delirious, you have to watch this. This is where Eddie stole must of his jokes, and most of his style, only one slight difference: Richard Pryor came first, and it's still better than anything Eddie has ever done. Go see this one. IT'S A HOOT!
This is one of the very first taped stage comedy of Richard Pryor. Shot in Long Beach, California in 1970's, Richard Pryor's Live in Concert is one of the all time greats. Pryor's comedic style comes out like fire in this comedic stand up. From his antics about sex and nature, to his wild and crazy comments about "white people," Pryor is amazing. Entertaining and true, it is a stand up comedy for the ages.
Did you know
- TriviaFirst live stand-up concert to be released as a feature film, and taking into account Pryor's language and topics, was considered to be a real risk. According to Wikipedia, the movie was the "first full-length, feature movie consisting of only stand-up comedy, often hailed as one of the seminal and most influential recorded stand-up performances of the modern era".
- Quotes
Richard Pryor: I like makin' love myself, and I can make love for about three minutes. I do about three minutes of serious fuckin', then I need eight hours sleep! And a bowl of Wheaties!
- Crazy creditsPatti LaBelle was an important part of the following program. Time does not permit us to include her in this recording but we gratefully acknowledge her performance.
- Alternate versionsReedited and reissued in August 1979 as "Richard Pryor Is Back Live In Concert," which was sold as an entirely new film. Much of the footage was from the original version, and virtually all of the material was the same, but some of the new footage was from a different performance of the same show. Producers noted that the difference could be determined by noting that in some shots, Pryor wears a wristwatch and in other shots he doesn't, prompting New York Times critic Vincent Canby to remark "If you cannot rest until you see Mr. Pryor wear a wristwatch, don't miss this recycled work. However, it's far cheaper to stay home and remember the first movie fondly."
- ConnectionsEdited into Heroes of Black Comedy (2002)
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- $300,000 (estimated)
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By what name was Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979) officially released in Canada in English?
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